The cricket world is a world filled with terminology and jargon. This can be quite confusing and intimidating, for both cricket fans and those who are new to the game. But hopefully with this guide some light can be shed on some of the more confusing aspects of the game.
When cricket commentators are running short of things to say they will often rattle off the positions of the fielders on the ground. But where are those positions exactly? Let's start with the most common positions, seen at the start of many T20 games:
Average (batting): A batsman's average is the number of runs they score per inning. It is calculated by the number of runs scored divided by the number of times they have gotten out. Not the number of innings. For example a batsman scores 125 runs in 5 innings. His average therefore is 25. But if in one of those innings he doesn't get out his average would be 31.25 (125 divided by 4).
Run rate: A team's run rate is the number of runs it has scored divided by the number of overs it has faced. For example a team scores 120 runs in 20 overs. Its run rate is 6.
Hope that's cleared a few things up!
Fielding Positions:
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| Common fielding positions (for a right hand batsman) |
No. 1: The Wicketkeeper - the only fixed position, catches deliveries and is involved in more dismissals than any other fielder.
No. 2: The Slips - Adjacent to the keeper, most likely place to take a catch. Often multiple slips are used in longer forms of the game
No. 3: Third Man - a run saving position, a lot of balls get edged or guided in this area
No. 4: Point - About 30 yards (27 metres) from the wicket, inline with the batsman. Agile fielders with good anticipation often field here
No. 5: Cover - Similar distance from the batsman, in line with other end of the pitch.
No. 6: Mid-off - Straightest fielder on the off-side
No. 7: Mid-on - Straightest fielder on the on-side
No. 8: Mid-wicket - the mirror of the cover position, but on the on-side
No. 9: Square Leg - Similar to the point position, but on the on-side
No. 10: Fine Leg - another run saving position, for when the bowler bowls down leg-side
No. 11: Bowler - Obviously not a fielder!
As I said before, these are the most common fielding positions. There are many, many other positions but most of which are variations of these basic ones. At the risk of causing more confusion, a more detailed image of cricket fielding positions can be found here:
Definitions
Let's break down some terminology:
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| Don Bradman owns the highest career batting average (99.94) |
Average (bowling): A bowler's average is the number of runs scored off their bowling divided by the number of wickets they have taken, i.e a bowler records the figures of 2/50, his bowling average therefore is 25.
Economy: How many runs a bowler concedes per over. For example a bowler bowls 2 overs for 10 runs. His economy rate is 5
LBW: Leg before wicket. If a batsmen is struck on the leg and the ball otherwise would have hit the stumps, they can be given out LBW by the umpire. To be out LBW they must be hit inline with the stumps and the ball must not have pitched outside the leg stump
Leg-spin: A type of spin bowling. A leg-spin delivery from a right-arm bowler would spin (as the bowler sees it) from right to left. It is the opposite for a left arm leg-spinner
Maiden: An over where no runs are scored off the bat.
Net run rate: A team's run rate in comparison to the opposition. For example if one team scores at 6 runs an over and their opponents score at 5 runs an over, that teams net run rate is +1. Used to separate teams in group competitions.
Off-spin: A type of spin bowling. An off-spin delivery from a right-arm bowler would spin (as the bowler sees it) from left to right. It is the opposite for a left-arm off-spinner.
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| A perfect yorker |
Strike rate (batting): How many runs a batsman scores per 100 balls faced. It is calculated by dividing the runs scored by the balls faced. A strike rate of well over 100 is desired in T20 cricket.
Strike rate (bowling): A bowler's strike rate is how many balls the bowl, on average for each wicket. For example if a bowler bowls 5 overs and takes 1 wicket, their strike rate would be 30.
Wrong-'un: A delivery from a spin bowler that spins the opposite way to what is expected, i.e. an off-spinner bowls a ball that spins as a leg spinner should. Used to deceive batsmen if they don't detect the change. Also known as a doosra, googly and the carrom ball
Yorker: A fast full-pitched delivery that pitches around the batsman's toes, trying to either bowl them out or get an LBW decision.
Hope that's cleared a few things up!
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